This report reviews the findings of unannounced hygiene inspections carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority in public acute hospitals between February 2014 and January 2015. These inspections are carried out to check whether or not hospitals are meeting the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare AssociatedInfections.

Health is information-intensive, generating huge volumes of data every day. Health and social care workers spend a significant amount of their time handling information, collecting it, looking for it and storing it. It is therefore imperative that information is managed in the most effective way possible in order to ensure a high quality, safe service.

Following a request from the Department of Health, the Health Information and Quality Authority agreed to undertake a health technology assessment of information technology solutions for early warning and clinical handover systems for Ireland.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (the Authority) recognises the importance of increasing the quality and safety of care for all children, especially children who are particularly vulnerable and are living away from their families.